Picture this: You've had a long day, your wallet says no to take-out, your tummy's rumbling away and all you've got is a bunch of leftovers you're too bored to eat. Unfortunately, I've been there way more times than I'd like to, so this one's for you.

Here are some really cool ways to reuse your leftovers.

Rice

Being Asian, rice is pretty much in the fridge at any given time. One would think since we have rice so often, I would have mastered the art of cooking just the right amount so that it's all consumed - BIG NO! I know, home cook fail! I almost always have leftover rice that's either too much for or too little. So here's how I repurpose it for something exciting:

1. Fried rice - I LOVE this because it's such an easy fix to make boring old rice feel exciting AND, I get to use any other leftovers like chicken or that half a carrot sitting in the fridge.

2. Pulao - I recently did this although I used the cheating method (aka my favourite method). Actually making pulao can be lengthy, but what I did instead was make a quick fry out of mince, sauteed the rice in a bit of butter and herbs, then tossed it in with the mince and there was my mince pulao! Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

3. Rice cutlets - This is another great way to use multiple little leftovers - a little bit of chicken, a bit of potatoes and yum. I actually make this for my daughter because she loves finger food and it's a lovely nourishing snack. Here is the recipe if you're looking for it: https://youtu.be/W9H20CJRmeg

4. Rice pudding - OK, confession - I don't like rice pudding 😂. My kiddo on the other hand, does. Indians call it rice kheer. This is a wonderful way to use up that expiring milk carton too!

5. Stuffed bell pepper - This one has me drooling...Oh, wait, sorry, I'm blogging and must use professional language. Delete. This idea has me salivating. I love red bell peppers, but you can pick your fav and stuff it with everything you love! Here's one idea: https://youtu.be/EZeD6CevDsw

So these are my 5 ideas to reuse rice. Now, on to the next regular leftover:

Chicken

I love chicken because it's so versatile. This is another ingredient that I almost always have left in the fridge. I've narrowed down 5 ideas for you, but really, there is tons you can do with leftover chicken.

1. Sandwiches - I literally did this today and I'm kicking myself for not taking a photo. I made roast chicken yesterday, shredded the leftovers, tossed it in some mayo, a few sauces and grated cucumber and voila - chicken spread.

2. Soup - Ok, time for some easy peasy meals. Sautee a bit of ginger and garlic with an onion, add some spices like turmeric and other spices you enjoy. Now add a few of your favourite vegetables with some water and a bit of chicken stock or a soup cube and boil it till it’s done. Finally, add in the leftover chicken either whole or shredded and toss in a few sauces like Worcestershire and soya sauce and you’re good to go.

3. Pizzaaaaa - who doesn’t love a good homemade pizza. On days when I am really time-strapped, I’ll use store-bought pizza base and sauce, toss on some leftover chicken with whatever vegetables I’ve got and go heavy on the cheese. I call this my leftovers pizza.

4. Quesadilla - The great thing with quesadillas and fajitas is that there are so many ways to make them. You can make quesadillas with almost anything you have at home and it will still taste like lavish comfort food.

5. Pasta - I tried this when I was single once. I had a big pot of chicken curry that I was too bored to eat, so I washed the chicken and made pasta. I thought I was being strange but found solace in the internet knowing others have done this too! Here’s a leftover chicken pasta recipe that works well for me: https://mamalovestocook.com/leftover-chicken-pasta-bake/

Rice, done, chicken done, what’s next?

Yoghurt

This one's funny cos it's not exactly a leftover, but all too often I've seen it sitting in my fridge way past expiry just chilling out. So what can we do with excess yoghurt?

1. Yoghurt curry - okay before you start egging me, this is a real thing and I'm not the only one that makes it! However you do need to have a taste for Indian food to enjoy this - specifically South Indian food. Here is the recipe: www.google.com/amp/s/www.pachakam.com/recipes/easy-curd-curry%3famp

2. Smoothies - Need I say more? This makes for an excellent breakfast or snack on the go!

3. Curd rice - In some families, this is considered comfort food. In my family, it's the meal that you put together when there's absolutely no time. It's super simple and equally tasty. https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/curd-rice-recipe/

4. 2 ingredient flatbread - Confession! I've yet to try this. However it sounds amazing! Here's the recipe I've got my eye on: https://www.easypeasyfoodie.com/easy-2-ingredient-yogurt-flatbreads/ I'll be sure to put out an update on our social media pages when I've concluded this experiment, so stay tuned.

5. Tandoori - so a good yoghurt marinade is the foundation for any good tandoori. Tandoori can be chicken, prawns, even cottage cheese, but without your yoghurt, it's not going to work!

I can't believe I just penned down 5 ways to reuse an ingredient like yoghurt! So next on my list is:

Chickpeas

I don't know about you, but chickpeas aren't actually my favourite thing in the world to eat. However these 5 items, I could have any day:

1. Hummus - Growing up in Dubai, this is basically a monthly staple. I don't think I ever went a month without indulging in some hummus. The thought of it even now makes my mouth water.

2. Chickpea salad - If you're a salad lover, this one's for you. Add in some couscous or quinoa and it almost compensates a whole meal.

3. Chickpea curry - There are so many ways to make this based on your preference, but one of the famous Indian dishes is called chole bhature.

4. Garlic chickpea soup - I personally love a good soup and salad so ideas like this really get me excited. This is such a simple but scrumptious soup and one that you won't often find at a restaurant.

5. Falafels - I gave you soups, I gave you salad, now time for some deep fried food! All with chickpeas might I add!

Now for my last and possibly strangest leftover:

Scrambled eggs

Ever had a nice large family meal but then get left with a bunch of scrambled eggs?

Before you bin it, here are some ideas that may be worth your while.

1. Egg and potato scramble - This sounds weird but actually can be quite satisfying. Finely chop an onion, a bit of garlic and potatoes, saute them in a bit of oil, then add a bit of tomato (optional) and your eggs. Toss in a bit of herbs and done!

2. Egg Hakka noodles - I couldn't write a blog with 25 recipes and not give you a Chinese option! I love Hakka noodles because there are barely any vegetables that can't go in, eggs go well, chicken, beef, pork, prawns and almost any protein goes well which means you can enjoy this in several variations without overkill.

3. Burrito - Egg burritos are surprisingly good. They also make great packed lunches or on the go meals. Combine the eggs with a bit of bacon, some hash browns or cheese and you've got yourself a delicious meal.

4. Sandwiches - Yes! I'm back to sandwiches but that's mostly because I love food that's not messy, easy to put together and easy to eat - especially at my workstation.

5. Pasta - okay, another repeat entry, but who doesn't love a good pasta.

So there you go! My 5 regular leftovers that you can make delicious new meals out of. If you enjoyed this piece and like to be really whacky with your leftovers, check out the best leftovers ever on Netflix. That show takes leftovers to a whole new level!